'Great day for American Jurisprudence!' Celebrities hail the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

Various celebrities celebrated the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday, expressing their excitement on social media.

The Senate vote was 53-47 — Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Susan Collins of Maine voted in favor of confirming Jackson to the high court, while the rest of the GOP senators voted against confirmation. In June, 2021, Romney voted against confirming Jackson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Jackson, who will replace Justice Stephen Breyer once he retires later this year, will be the first black woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court. Her prescence will not shift the 6-3 balance of the nine-member court, which is currently comprised of three justices nominated by Democratic presidents and six justices nominated by Republican presidents.

Celebrities expressed their enthusiasm about Jackson's confirmation.

"Congratulation to JUSTICE Ketanji Brown Jackson on her elevation to the nation’s highest court. Well deserved, and well past time," George Takei tweeted.

"There have been 115 Supreme Court Justices, but there has never before been a Black woman appointed to the highest court of the land. Until now…and my heart swells! Congratulations, Justice Jackson," Alyssa Milano remarked.

"I mean…LOT OF BAD GOIN ON SO LET’S TAKE THIS HISTORIC WIN TODAY AND ENJOY IT," Kathy Griffin tweeted.

"History," Ben Stiller tweeted, along with several raised-hands emojis.

"Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson," Padma Lakshmi tweeted. "History is made! What a proud day for our country."

"Great day for American Jurisprudence! One of the most qualified people in Supreme Court history takes her rightful place on the bench. Congratulations Judge, now Justice, Jackson," Rob Reiner tweeted.

Reiner, an outspoken liberal, tweeted last week that "It’s long past time that we acknowledge the sure handed, effective, grace under fire, success of Joe Biden’s Presidency." While he made the post on April Fools' Day, considering his openly liberal leanings, he was not joking.

Jackson has noted that she does not have a position on the issue of whether people have natural rights.

"I do not hold a position on whether individuals possess natural rights," the jurist wrote in response to a written question from Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing last month, GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana asked Jackson when she believes that life begins.

"I don't know," Jackson said. She noted that she has "a religious view" on the topic which she puts aside while making rulings.

Kennedy asked Jackson, "when does equal protection of the laws attach ... to a human being?"

Jackson told the lawmaker, "I actually don't know the answer to that question. I'm sorry."